They seem to have preserved and exposed most of what remained, and walled over the rest. They partitioned off the rear part of the auditorium into classroom-type space. I’m sure they intend to dismantle that and move those functions to storefront spaces as their congregation grows. The one odd thing I noticed in the video was that the lunettes at the top of each archway in the theatre were removed for some reason.

tomorrow mar 15 this place (what was the BelPark theatre) re-opens as www.chicagotabernacle.org

a modest canopy hangs over the front entrance on Cicero ave stating ‘Chicago Tabernacle CT’, in place of what once many years ago was the BelPark theatre marquee.

I don’t exactly know but I’d hazard a good guess the newest renovation here utilizes what the old theatre had to offer inside, much much better than the previous Golden Tiara seniors bingo hall had done

Drove by today and saw the red & white Public Notice on the door. Then saw a post on the Chicago Theatre Preservation Alliance Facebook page, that included the below link. The BelPark will be the new home of Chicago Tabernacle. The same folks who originally wanted the Portage Theatre. So good news all around, with both now being saved.

i’m glad when a religious organization takes over a former theatre, and can live with bingo activity doing similarly, because it means the building’s lease on life has been extended instead of it falling into disuse & vacancy. we’ve had far too many heartbreaking examples of that

what i say above goes double for former theatres which could be characterized as old movie palaces. personally i favor these alternate useages specifically for the distinct possibility at least a percentage can and will revert to film exhibition once again. that’s a goal quite compatible with this cinematreasures site, and why i’d point out a missed opportunity like the BelPark

I am late to this discussion, and I haven’t read every comment. But here is my two cents: The Belpark has been positively serving the community as a bingo hall for many years. I really don’t know much about bingo. But it seems like people pay something to get in, play bingo and have a chance to win prize money, while at the same time socializing. That sounds like a good thing. I’d rather see this church take residence in a space that is currently vacant. In a city the size of Chicago there must be at least a few to choose from.

A blown opportunity to spend several times as much for a few hundred more seats to fill, maybe (and remember, there are no seats in place). An opportunity to get foreclosed. Of course, is it even an opportunity if the owners of the Belpark had no interest in selling, and the operators of the Portage did not have funds to buy, but rent? Easy to play 20/20 hindsight, but I have actually been through the Belpark fairly recently. Don’t forget the Portage has Sears parking. It’s a good opportunity for the church, which should have better access to financing, and perhaps they’ll end up making the facility available for other events, assuming they’re able to make the deal happen.

I beg to differ about the Elinor. I worked for the Chicago Dept of Human Services for many years in the emergency shelter program. We would only place people in need of temporary housing there as a last resort, because of the unsavory clientele and activities which took place there. The liquor store is a magnet and certainly can’t be compared to a restaurant which serves liquor.

I still live in the area (Jefferson Park), so I know what I’m talking about.

The fact that there are so many surface parking lots at Cicero should make it clear that it’s a less hot area. If there was much demand for land at Cicero & Belmont, the bank would likely sell much of its oversized parking lots for redevelopment. 6 corners has Sears & Jewel, Cicero has Walgreens. Milwaukee and Irving Park are much more heavily trafficked than that part of Cicero & Belmont. If empty lots are better than occupied businesses, explain the Music Box.

There are no seats at all at the Belpark. Capacity couldn’t be more than a few hundred, as bingo is conducted at widely-spaced card tables. It’s also not exclusively seniors. I think if you saw inside the Belpark you’d understand why both parties went after the Portage first.

A restaurant with a liquor license is a much different animal than a liquor store & flophouse.

“(cicero & belmont) doesn’t have the visibility,
transit access, or commercial district….as the portgae does”. Huh? Of course it does as much or moreso as 6 corners. Tell all this to Community Savings Bank president Dale Cleven, i’d bet he’d be surprised to hear it.

if the belpark has too many seats for films it must have too many seats for senior bingo, and that’s not stopping it

objecting to a liquor store across the street? i recall an objection to a a church taking over the portage because then 6 corners restaurants couldn’t get a liquor license!

empty lots, free parking or otherwise, certainly are better than no lots at all

I do like the terra cotta and would love to see all those stud lights lite on the Belpark, but what about that missing great window and that messed up interior?
Belpark 2,004 seats, to many, and all gone.
Portage 1,321 seats, more realistic, and on the deck.

You still also have the issue of a large liquor store and flophouse (transient hotel) directly across the street from the Belpark. Is this the kind of area that is going to attract folks who want to visit the theater?

At the Portage, the ownership could rent for a while instead of spending all the money purchasing a building AND renovating. The Portage is too big for many of the events at the Portage, much less the larger Belpark. The Belpark will take much more work to make beautiful again than the Portage did. It is heavily altered, though restorable. The Belpark wasn’t actually up for sale either. I think the car dealerships were still in business when the Portage reopened. The Belpark does not have the visibility, transit access, or a commercial district with potential as the Portage does. Just because there are empty lots nearby doesn’t mean parking will be available for free.

the film society at the portage should’ve renovated the belpark when they started—not the portage. if they had they’d have a bigger more grande old chicago movie palace, plus plenty nearby parking to boot because of the empty used-car lots right around the belpark that’ve been unused for a few years now. parking’s what they sorely lack there at the portage

with that the church would be just fine at the portage and welcomed to it